New Search Experience with Audio and Image Input

Gloria Kristiani -

At Kanjiverse, we’re constantly striving to improve the way you interact with our Japanese dictionary. That's why we're thrilled to introduce a major update to our search functionality, designed to make your learning journey easier and more efficient. Our new features are here to help you find what you need—exactly when you need it.

Here’s everything you need to know about our newly revamped search feature:

1. Search Bar on the Home Page

Our new search functionality is now front and center. You’ll find the search bar conveniently located at the top of the home page with direct shortcuts to the new search functionalities. No more digging around—just tap and start your search! This enhanced accessibility makes it easier for users to dive straight into the app and quickly locate the vocabulary they’re looking for or extract sentences.

2. New Search Screen Layout

The new search screen has all input methods accessible at the bottom of the screen, right above the keyboard, a standard app bar with OCR actions, and will also show your recent search queries by default.

Ever wanted to search without lifting a finger? Now you can. With our new Voice Search feature, you can search for words or sentences by simply speaking into the app. Just tap the microphone icon and start speaking, Kanjiverse will find it instantly.

4. Enhanced OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

One of the most exciting updates to our search functionality is the introduction of OCR (Optical Character Recognition). You can now take a picture of Japanese in real-world contexts, such as books, menus, or signs, and Kanjiverse will recognize any Japanese text and make it interactive! You can also upload images and screenshots from your phone, and use OCR to break down the sentences found in the image.

Here’s how it works:

  • Take a Photo: See kanji or text in the wild? Snap a photo directly from the app, and our OCR tool will highlight all sentences with our signature color scale.
  • Or Upload an Image: Have a picture saved on your device? Upload it, and let Kanjiverse do the rest.
  • Interact: select the text, or tap and bookmark sentences to directly add them to your sentences bank!

Note: if sentences are not properly colorized, download the Japanese Index first.

5. Future Feature: Live OCR (Coming Soon!)

But we’re not stopping at static images. We’re already working on bringing live OCR to Kanjiverse, which will allow you to scan text in real-time. This means you’ll be able to point your camera at any Japanese text—whether it’s a sign, book, or poster—and Kanjiverse will instantly recognize and translate it on the screen.

Why This Update is a Game-Changer for Learners

At Kanjiverse, we’re committed to making Japanese learning more engaging, efficient, and tailored to individual needs. This search update brings together all the tools you need to find relevant content in one place. Whether you prefer typing, speaking, or taking pictures, we’ve made sure the app works for how you want to search.

So what are you waiting for? Jump into Kanjiverse, explore the new search features, and take your Japanese learning to the next level. Let us know what you think—we’re always eager to hear your feedback!